Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-02-25
THE ~BEE.KEEPER.
Losses OF Bees tn lyin.e,.

W. w. VNSS%SS
DR.. James A. Minich, of Indianapolis, writes
to the Bee Journal: We can scarcely pick up
q bee paper that has not something to say on
this subject We hear it discussed I'D infini-
tum ut our conventions; and of remedies to
guard against winter loss there is no ond. It
Is amusing to see how widely apiarists differ.
and the variance of their opinions. 1 have
listened patiently, and have faithfully readall
the theories. l do not object to any and all
the plans shat have been given from time to
time; they are all good enough as far as they
go. 1t is we'll to put chatf cushions, forest
leaves, or any good absorbent in the upper
story OF the hive; or to pack straw or eaw-
dust or chaff around the outsides of the hive;
contract tho brood-chamber to five or six
frames; make passageways through the
combs, or place sticks on top for the same
purpose, and put them into q suitable cellar.
All these cautionary measures are proper, and
most OF them necessary to success. The bees
WALL generally winter we'll and come out IN the
spring all right, and every bee-keeper feels as
though he had solved the winter problem and
is on the road to success, and even to fame, and
he cries sEureka!!"
But sooner or later an epidemic comes and
tho bees die in spite of all the above plans and
remedies, and a schange comes DER the spirit
OF his dreams" And again the discussion be-
glns-Stoo much pollen" too much %ventila-
much cold, or too damp; and more remedies
are offered. Now, why is it that these cpl
denies will come every few years? In my
opinion the main reason has been overlooked.
l have observed that every epidemic among
bees has been preceded by a drought the sum
make a note of this. This was the case the
summer and fall of 1880, and it was followed
in the winter by great fatality among the bees.
1t was the case thirteen or fourteen years ago
i can not tell the year--and the bees were al
most annihilated the following winter in Cen
trail Indiana. And in the summer and fall of
1854 there was sufficient drought at the proper
time to bring about the same result.
But how could it affect the bees? you ask.
In two ways: l. 1t Is o &ell-known fact that
in dry weather, and consequently the queens
cease to lay eggs, and breeding stops.
Now one can readily see that colonies
will have to go into winter quar-.
ters with old June aud July bees
which were ready to die from old age and OK,
haustion; or perchance q few of them might
linger a few weeks longer, and zone by one
ding caused by old age. !. Dry weather is
conducive to the secretion of honey dew, OF
sbug juice" and bees will gather it and store
it away for the winter, which causes diarrhea
among the bees and consequent death.
The remedy: Taking the above to be facts
the remedy is now plain enough; the winter
problem is solved. When dry weather sets in,
and the honey flow ceases in August and Sep
TENDER, the bees should DO fed regularly so as
! to stimulate late breeding. This should be done
regularly, or the queens will not havs much
confidence in the future outlook, and will STOP
laying. Honey dew should be excluded in ev.
cry way possible. 1t can be detected as soon
as the bee-keeper sees it. Take it out and fee6
them bountifully OF cane-sugar strip. If YOU
will be as careful in this respect as you are il
others, you will have no losses. Remember
that your greatest trouble is caused by
droughts, and that if your colonies can 20 into
winter quarters with young bees, with pure
honey or strip, cushions of chaff or leaves OF
top, passages for the bees to travel from CONT
to comb, and keeping them quieta and not both
ering them at all in their long rest, you viii
see them all come out booming in the spring
No matter how severe the winter may be, the!
will survive and come out all right on tn
above conditions